Municipal
/mjuːˈnɪs.ɪ.pəl/noun
Relating to a city, town, or local government.
Did you know?Municipal comes from Latin words tied to a community’s obligations and privileges, and the same root helped shape Roman ideas of citizenship, service, and public duty.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mey-
“to exchange, change, or give in return”
Latin
Latin
munus
“a duty, gift, service, or public obligation”
Latin
Latin
municeps
“a citizen of a town with obligations and privileges”
Late Latin
Latin
municipalis
“of a town or local community”
Middle French
Old French
municipal
“pertaining to a municipality or town”
Modern English
English
municipal
“relating to local government or a city or town”